Smith delighted with patient innings

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The stand-in Australia captain played a patient innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and reaped the rewards with a superb knock that included 15 fours and two sixes.

Smith anchored the innings for his side as they piled on the runs against a tiring India attack, eventually being bowled out for 530, before India closed the day 108-1.

That leaves Australia in a strong position going into the third day of the third Test, and Smith was particularly pleased with his own innings.

He said on Saturday: "I started pretty slow yesterday. I was two off about 30 balls from memory. It was just about being patient and letting bowlers keep coming back and getting tired.

"I think we were able to do that and reap the rewards late yesterday and today as well

"I feel pretty good at the crease. Everything is working for me at the moment which is nice and the most pleasing thing is that we've got 530 runs on the board and that's a very good first innings total for us."

The only negative for Australia was an injury to opener David Warner during a net session on Saturday. The 28-year-old was hit on the arm by Peter Siddle and did not take to the field for the start of India's innings.

"Hopefully Davey's alright in the morning," Smith added. "He's copped a hit in the nets and he's got a bit of a bruised arm. He was struggling to clench his fist.

"Hopefully he has a good sleep and feels better in the morning so he can come out and field."

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